November 2005
Space Watch
Week of November 7 - November 11, 2005
Welcome to Space Watch. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space.
If you are interested in receiving a weekly email update version of Space Watch, please send an email to spacewatch@eisenhowerinstitute.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Space Watch will be sent out every Friday.
Civil Space
ISS Astronauts Conduct Space Walk
The two International Space Station astronauts got to stretch their legs a bit as they conducted their first space walk. The men installed a new television camera on the outside of the station so that future shuttle crews will have a clear view to construct additional sections of the space station. The men also removed a device which was used to monitor static electricity and threw it into space. Officials feared that the device could break free and hit the station, so in order to solve the problem, they simply removed it and launched it into space. Astronaut McArthur hurled it like a football to the enjoyment of mission controllers back in Houston.
(Klotz, Irene. http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2005-11-07T223056Z_01_MOL760121_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPACE-WALK.xml, 11/7/05).
EU to Engage Russia in Space Cooperation
The European Union and Russia are reportedly looking to establish a strategic cooperative space relationship. In an upcoming December ministerial meeting, the EU will look to join forces with Moscow in Russia's new six-person reusable orbiter, called the Clipper. The EU is looking to gain Russia's established reputation and knowledge in the field of space exploration while Russia is looking to establish the EU as a strong financial supporter of its programs. The EU is intending to secure two seats on every Clipper Mission. Details of the relationship are yet to be unveiled.
(Bordonaro, Federico. http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=13412, 11/7/05).
Popular Science Magazine Picks "Best of What's New"
The NASA Swift satellite has reportedly won the "Best of What's New" contest sponsored by Popular Science Magazine. The Swift satellite took home the prize in the aviation and space category and will be featured in the December, 2005 issue. The Swift satellite is designed to study and better understand gamma-ray bursts, powerful space explosions that last only a few seconds. It is capable of detecting the bursts, turning autonomously to observe the phenomenon and then relaying the information and the source of the blast to other near-by satellites within seconds. Other programs receiving the "Best of What's New" award include the Experimental Satellite System 11 (XSS-11), the Deep Impact Probe, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
(Penn State University, http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/Swift11-2005.htm, 11/8/05).
NASA Still Can't Find Mars Lander
NASA officials looking for the Mars Polar Lander will have to continue to look, as a white dot which had appeared to be evidence of the wreckage is no longer there, according to the newest satellite images. The newest photographs, taken five years after the original evidence, show no evidence of the lander at all. Some are suggesting that the original dot was a "noisy pixel" or a random camera glitch. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, currently on its way to the Red Planet, has higher-resolution cameras. NASA hopes that it may have a better chance of finding the lander.
(Chang, Kenneth, http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/08/science/08mars.html, 11/8/05).
Russia Develops New Satellite
According to the Russian Space Agency, Russia is planning to present its new communications satellite, Europe-1, at the Space Expo next week in Moscow. The new satellite is allegedly a new-generation communications craft based on cutting-edge technology designed to provide high-quality broadcasting. This will be Russia's first high-definition TV channel, according to Russian Space Agency officials. Only five other channels carry High-Definition television in Europe.
(RIA Novosti, http://en.rian.ru/russia/20051108/42025265.html, 11/8/05).
Galileo's First Demonstrator Set to Launch in December
The testing phase of the Galileo satellite navigation system will begin on December 28th, according to ESA sources. On that day, ESA will launch its first demonstrator spacecraft, called Giove-A, from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The satellite, a UK-built craft, has the task of claiming the future frequencies which Galileo will run on. The Galileo system is Europe's most expensive space undertaking, and it will be interoperable with the American GPS system. The program is expected to create some 140,000 jobs.
(Amos, Jonathon. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4417290.stm, 11/9/05).
Probe Launches Towards Venus
The Venus Express probe was launched this week by a Russian rocket on a five-month, 26 million mile journey towards the Earth's closest planet, Venus. The probe is designed to study the effects of climate change. Venus, which is similar in size and mass is an example of what happens when global warming runs amok. It has a thick atmosphere, composed mostly of carbon dioxide, which traps heat on the planet's surface and raises the temperature to nearly 460 degrees Celsius. This is the first probe sent to Venus in nearly 15 years and will orbit the planet for 500 days.
(The Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/09/uvenus.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/11/09/ixportaltop.html, 11/9/05).
INA Amendment Passes Both Houses
The US Senate this week approved amendments passed by the House of Representatives which will allow NASA to pay for Russian launches and spacecraft in support the International Space Station. The Iran Nonproliferation Act, signed in 2000, barred any US purchase of Russian space hardware so long as Russia continued to aid Iran's nuclear energy program. The amendment allows the US to cooperate with Russia in terms of its space programs at least until 2012. Without the amendment, the US would not have been able to send any astronauts up in space on the Russian Soyuz capsules. "The legislation passed by Congress reflects the US government's continuing commitment to nonproliferation objectives but also recognizes the value of international cooperation in space exploration," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.
(Clark, Colin. http://www.space.com/news/051109_congress_soyuz.html, 11/9/05).
Scientists Offer Asteroid Collision Solution
Dedicating themselves to developing a plan for an asteroid headed for a collision with Earth, two NASA scientists have offered a viable solution. They have presented a plan for an asteroid tractor which would use gravity in order to gently pull the asteroid into a different orbit. The recommendation makes use of an unmanned, 20 ton spacecraft which would hover above the surface of the asteroid (without touching it) and use gravity as a type of "towline." "You can think of it like a big elastic band between the two pulling them together," says Edward Lu, one of the scientists who are presenting this idea.
(Carey, Bjorn,
http://space.com/businesstechnology/051109_asteroid_tractor.html, 11/9/05).
Commercial
Google Earth Concerns Some World Leaders
As internet programs such as Google Earth, MSN Virtual Earth, and other imagery products have grown in popularity over the last year, world leaders are starting to take note of these as possible security risks. Just last month, India's President APJ Abdul Kalam purported that these programs open up developing countries to potential attacks. He suggested that current international regulations regarding the display of spatial observations are inadequate. However, US government and industry officials stress that US code is more than adequate in addressing this issue. A 1992 Remote Sensing Policy Act, current licensing by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and a 1997 Congressional Amendment address this issue of regulating remote sensing. Google maintains that its programs are merely aggregates of data that are already presently available, and besides that, the photos are most often one to three years old.
(Frederick, Missy. Space News, 11/7/05).
Successful Sea Launch Lifts European Satellite
A Zenit-3SL rocket was successfully launched from a floating rocket pad in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Sea Launch Company. The launch was reportedly the first time that Sea Launch had carried a European spacecraft. The rocket launched a European-built communications satellite for Inmarsat. It is intended to improve high-speed Internet and intranet connections and also to support video-on-demand and videoconferencing services.
(AP, http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/13112130.htm, 11/8/05).
Military
Air Force to Accelerate Space Radar Program
According to Pentagon officials, the US Air Force is looking into speeding up the Space Radar program in lieu of recent Congressional cuts in the program. The Space Radar, intended to watch for moving targets on the ground, was scheduled to launch a one-quarter scale demonstration satellite by 2008 and to launch an operational constellation in 2015. Instead, the USAF is considering scrapping the demonstration and moving the operational constellation up five years to 2010. The Space Radar budget had been cut to $100 million from its request of $226 million in this year's 2006 Defense Appropriations Act.
(News Briefs, Space News, 11/7/05).
Pentagon Awards AirLaunch Falcon Contract
The Pentagon recently awarded AirLaunch LLC a $17.8 million contract to continue the Falcon Small Launch Vehicle program. The Falcon program is dedicated to developing small, relatively cheap launch vehicles that can be utilized on short notice. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is managing the program alongside the US Air Force. AirLaunch's program is called the QuickReach small satellite and is dropped from an unmodified C-17 before launching. The company demonstrated the safe release of a dummy booster in September.
(News Briefs, Space News, 11/7/05).
Op-Ed
Op-Ed: Vision, Experience, Progress
In Ron Sugar's recent Washington Times opinion piece, he argues that it is critical that the United States continues to remain the leader in space technology and exploration. He argues that, though the commercial sector will be important, government cannot be substituted for in space exploration and research. According to Sugar, "Like basic research, exploration has no predetermined result." Corporations cannot fund these types of endeavors where no known result is expected. Sugar argues that only NASA can lead the way in this push for space exploration. After all, Eisenhower and Kennedy could not have even fathomed the space technologies that we have accomplished today when they chose to explore space fifty years ago. Now, we, too, must move beyond the known because the "challenges and opportunities of our times demand that we lead the journey toward unknowable benefits and new progress."
(Sugar, Ron. http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20051107-100013-2253r.htm, 11/8/05).
Op-Ed: Chinese Space Development
The author, Dwayne Day, recently participated in a conference, sponsored by the CAN Corporation, which was dedicated to discussing the implications and objectives of China's military and space development. He suggests that several important conclusions were reached. First, he purports that the prospects for cooperation between China and the US are remote due to the American government's belief that cooperation can only occur after the political relationship between the two has improved. The Chinese, however, have showed a willingness to cooperate. Someone mentioned that the US is missing out on a great opportunity here to re-establish itself as the clear leader regarding China. He also purported that no one believed that China was attempting to ‘race' the US in space. However, there was no real consensus reached about the intentions of the Chinese in space. The conclusion reached was that both sides are very adept at misreading the other and that this could have dire consequences for both sides.
(Day, Dwayne. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/492/1, 11/7/05).
Oddly Enough
Live Concert Beamed to ISS
Former Beatle Paul McCartney is reportedly going to serenade the International Space Station crew of two on Saturday. McCartney is set to play his songs "Good Day Sunshine" and "English Tea" for the astronauts from Anaheim, California. He will be beamed to the station via NASA television. The reason for the concert? McCartney recently found out that the crew was awakened by Mission Control in August to the tunes of "Good Day Sunshine."
(MSNBC, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9991374/, 11/10/05).
Astrologer's Claim is Struck Down in Russian Court
Russian Astrologer Marina Bai has accused NASA of upsetting the natural state of the universe when it launched the probe Deep Impact that eventually collided with a comet this summer. Bai had sued the space agency for $300 million for psychological damage. Allegedly, NASA had altered her horoscope by crashing into the comet. The Presnensky Court of Moscow has ruled against Bai. Bai's lawyer plans to appeal within the next ten days.
(MosNews, http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/11/08/marinabai.shtml, 11/8/05).
Credits
Compiled by Chad Kreikemeier
Edited by Suzy Vogel
Space Watch
Week of November 14 - November 18, 2005
Welcome to Space Watch. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space.
If you are interested in receiving a weekly email update version of Space Watch, please send an email to spacewatch@eisenhowerinstitute.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Space Watch will be sent out every Friday.
Civil Space
McCartney Performs for Astronauts
Two astronauts on the International Space Station received a live wakeup call from former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney on Sunday morning. McCartney's live performance of "Good Day Sunshine" and "English Tea" in California was beamed directly to NASA astronaut Bill McArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev in the first ever live concert linkup to the space station. McCartney reportedly came up with the idea after learning that NASA's Mission Control used a recording of "Good Day Sunshine" to wake up the Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts in August with word that they could begin their return mission to Earth. McArthur, who did several flips during the performance, thanked McCartney profusely for playing the songs, saying, "We consider you an explorer just as we are."
(AP, http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/11/13/mccartney.space.ap/index.html, 11/13/05)
Japan Loses Robot on Asteroid Mission
Japan's second attempt to send a miniature robot to gather information on the asteroid Itokawa failed when the robot was lost before reaching the asteroid. Hayabusa, the unmanned Japanese space probe, released the robot on Sunday to collect information from the surface of the asteroid. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency stated that scientists had miscalculated the best time to release the robot due to the satellite's constantly changing altitude. Minerva, a robot measuring 10 centimeters long, was supposed to land on the asteroid and send images and other data including the surface temperature of the asteroid back to the satellite. The first attempt to release Minerva was aborted earlier this month due to technical problems. Hayabusa, launched in 2003, is scheduled to attempt its own landing on the asteroid on November 19th.
(Reuters, http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/11/13/japan.probe.reut/index.html, 11/14/05)
Ariane-5 Rocket Finally Launches
After several postponements, an Ariane-5 rocket launched two satellites into orbit Wednesday night. The heavy-lift rocket blasted-off from the French Guiana carrying the US satellite Spaceway-2 and Indonesia's Telkom-2 satellite. Both satellites, together weighing more than 8 metric tons, were successfully released into orbit. The Telkom satellite was built in the US and will provide telephone, data and video transmissions across southeast Asia, while the Spaceway satellite will be used by DirecTV to transmit high definition television throughout the US. Technical problems plagued the rocket last week and prevented it from launching on schedule.
(Reuters, http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2005-11-17T035041Z_01_KRA712467_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPACE-ARIANE.xml&archived=False, 11/16/05)
Senate Passes NASA Budget
Congress approved a bill to provide $16.5 billion to NASA in the 2006 fiscal year, a compromise of earlier budget proposals. The Senate passed the appropriations bill with a vote of 94-5, while the House passed to same bill last week with a 397-19 vote. Money will be directed toward work on the Crew Exploration Vehicle and Crew Launch Vehicle, as well as toward shuttle and station operations. Specific funding for a future shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope was also included, provided NASA decides that the mission is safe to attempt.
(Florida Today, http://www.flatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll//NEWS02/511170365/1007, 11/17/05)
ISS Crew Moves Soyuz
The two astronauts aboard the International Space Station briefly left their posts early Friday morning to move their Soyuz spacecraft to a new docking port. American astronaut William McArthur and Russian Valery Tokarev undocked the Soyuz TMA-7 from the Pirs module at 3:46 a.m. EST, and 19 minutes later, docked the spacecraft on the port of the Zarya module. This move was necessary to make room for a spacewalk next month. However, despite these preparations, a Russian official has told Russian press that the spacewalk may be put off until after the Expedition 12 crew completes their stay on the station in April due to delays in the next shuttle launch.
(RIA Novosti, http://en.rian.ru/russia/20051117/42126519.html, 11/18/05)
Iran Says Satellite has Spy Capabilities
In an AP interview this week, the head of Iran's space program said that his country's recently launched research satellite has the ability to spy on Israel. But, Ahmad Talbzadeh stressed that it is only being used for research purposes. "Technically speaking, yes. It can monitor Israel - but we don't need to do it. You can buy satellite photos of Israeli streets from the market," said Talbzadeh. Combined with several menacing warnings to Israel from Iran's president, officials in Israel have begun to worry about a possible attack by Iran. "We know that they spy on us," Chairman of the Knesset Defense Committee Ephraim Sneh (Labor) told AP. "What they are trying to do is look for places where a mega-terror attack can take place." Despite doubts from the US, Israel and other countries, Iran has consistently claimed that it does not have any nuclear weapons in its possession.
(HaLevi, Ezra, http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=93213, 11/18/05)
Commercial
Orbital Wins Maylaysian Contract
Orbital Science Corporation has won a contract from Measat Satellite Systems, a Malaysian satellite operator, for a new communications satellite. The Measat-1R satellite will be based on Orbital's Star platform and is scheduled to launch in September 2007. The new satellite will replace the Measat-1 already in orbit. This is the fourth commercial satellite order for Orbital in 2005.
(Orbital, http://www.orbital.com/Template.php?Section=News&NavMenuID=32&template=PressReleaseDisplay.php&PressReleaseID=532, 11/15/05)
NASA Hopes Commercial Flights will Continue Life of ISS
NASA administrator Michael Griffin said Tuesday that after the US shuttle fleet is retired in 2010, he envisions commercial flights continuing to make trips to the International Space Station to carry supplies and crew members. Griffin acknowledged that the exploration of space can not be solely supported by taxpayer dollars, thus a need for private industry in space has been created. He hopes that the space station will promote "commercial space ventures that will help us meet our exploration objectives and at the same time create new jobs and new industry." He also suggested that the private sector could develop moon habitats for astronauts and orbiting fueling depots, among other things. "I think we are on to something big - something akin to what we saw with the personal computer 25 years ago," said the NASA chief.
(AP, http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/11/16/nasa.exploration.ap/index.html, 11/16/05)
Orbcomm Announces new GES in Kazakhstan
Orbcomm has commissioned a new Gateway Earth Station (GES) in Kazakhstan to be fully operational by December 1, 2005. "The commissioning of this Gateway Earth Station in Kazakhstan is an important milestone for Orbcomm as we continue driving our international growth strategy through the expansion of our global network," said Jerry Eisenberg, chief executive officer of Orbcomm. Gateway Earth Stations are terrestrial links to the Orbcomm network of satellites. The new GES will provide a 1500-mile coverage radius, allowing the company to expand data services into parts of Russia, China and the Middle East.
(SPX, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/satellite-biz-05zzzzzzz.html, 11/16/05)
Sea Launch and DirecTV Sign New Contract
A new contract between DirecTV and Sea Launch will send a DirecTV satellite into orbit in early 2007. The spacecraft is one of three Boeing 702 models ordered by DirecTV and is among the largest and most powerful Ka-band satellites ever created. The satellite, which will be launched from Sea Launch's Odyssey Launch Platform, will deliver high-definition programming to all 50 states. This is the seventh new contract Sea Launch has signed in 2005. President of Sea Launch Jim Maser said, "With three successful launches to date for DirecTV, Sea Launch is proud to be entrusted with yet another spacecraft launch to occur in early 2007."
(SPX, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launchers-05zzzx.html, 11/16/05)
Military
India to Launch Israel's Spy Satellite
Israel has opted not to send its next spy satellite on its own rocket, but has instead decided to launch it aboard India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). According to a report in Spacenews, Israel's Ministry of Defence and satellite producer Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd are nearing an agreement with their Indian counterparts for the planned October 2006 launch of TechSAR. The 250-kilogram satellite is Israel's first synthetic aperture radar imaging satellite. On January 9, 2002, India and Israel signed an umbrella agreement for space collaboration. This is the second contract between Israel and the Indian Space Research Organization.
(SPX, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/israel-05i.html, 11/14/05)
EU to Set Up Spy Satellite System
The European Union announced Monday that it is building its own network of spy satellites called Global Monitoring for Environment and Security. Officials hope that GMES will help the European Union become a military power, as well as help in relief efforts after fires and natural disasters. Management of the system will be under the European Space Agency. The entire project, scheduled to be operational by 2010, is expected to cost $2.67 billion between 2006 and 2013, with funding coming from national governments, private firms, and the commission.
(Rennie, David, http://www.washtimes.com/world/20051115-104933-9880r.htm, 11/16/05)
Op-Ed
Narrow window of opportunity
In his recent editorial published in Florida Today, Sam Durrance stresses the need for Florida to take the lead in space research and development. Noting that Florida has always played a crucial role in the space program as the primary launch site, Durrance wonders why Florida's role in research activities has been continually lackluster. Gov. Jeb Bush created the Florida Space Research Institute in 1999, but it has yet to produce the innovations and opportunities seen in California, Texas and Colorado. But, with NASA's new Vision for Space Exploration, Durrance believes that Florida has a chance to jump back into the game. NASA needs to find ways to enable humans to live and work in a hostile space environment, and Florida has the ability to make a significant input in this process. "I believe a window of opportunity has opened for Florida to become a player in space R&D. Given the speed at which NASA is making its exploration decisions, the window won't stay open for long."
(Durrance, Sam, http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/OPINION/504100309/1004, 11/18/05)
Oddly Enough
Engine Trouble Keeps "Star Trek" Actor Grounded
The ashes of "Star Trek" actor James Doohan were scheduled to be launched into space next month, but, due to engine problems, it may be February before the actor's remains make it to space. "We want to fly," Charles Chafer of Space Services Inc. said, "but, this will give us the opportunity to accept some additional participants for the ride." The rocket of course, was not carrying just Doohan's ashes, but those of 168 people from eight countries. Doohan, who played engineer Montgomery Scott in the original "Star Trek" television series, had asked for his remains to be launched into "the final frontier" following his death. Space Services has already launched the remains of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry.
(AFP, http://www.spacedaily.com/2005/051116024325.rqpir774.html, 11/16/05)
Space Reality?
A British commercial broadcaster has developed a new reality TV show that will take contestants to outer space. Only, despite what they may think, the contestants will never actually leave England. The show, called "Space Cadets," will convince contestants that they are training in a Russian space camp for a chance to launch into orbit for 5 days. However, the contestants will actually board a plane that circles the North Sea several times before landing in a former UK military facility, completely dressed as a Russian launch site. Russian food, light bulbs, and even toilet paper, among other things, will be imported as scenery for the show. Then, after training, the contestants will board a space craft taken from the "Space Cowboys" movie set, where a complete launch will be simulated. How will the show end? Well, if all goes as planned, the astronauts will eventually be allowed to go on a space walk, where they will be surprised to find friends, family and Mother Earth just outside the door. Previous astronauts have been used for consultation so that all simulations are life-like, and the makers promise the show will only be a one season event.
(Dawley, Heidi, http://medialifemagazine.com/artman/publish/article_1375.asp,
11/17/05)
Credits
Compiled by Brita Ericson
Edited by Suzy Vogel
Space Watch
Week of November 21 - December 2, 2005
Welcome to Space Watch. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space.
If you are interested in receiving a weekly email update version of Space Watch, please send an email to spacewatch@eisenhowerinstitute.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Space Watch will be sent out every Friday.
Civil Space
Orbiter Reaches Halfway Point to Mars
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is halfway to Mars in an unprecedented mission to collect data on the Red Planet. The NASA spacecraft successfully fired its six engines for 20 seconds last week to adjust its flight path. It will do this two more times before it enters orbit around Mars, when the two-ton spacecraft will join two other probes currently in orbit. The Mars Orbiter is equipped with a telescopic camera that can take the sharpest pictures yet of the planet's surface. Although previous missions to Mars have sent thousands of images back, they only cover about 2 percent of the planet. The orbiter was launched in August and its primary mission will end in 2010.
(AP, http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/11/21/mars.orbiter.ap/index.html, 11/21/05)
NASA Still Troubled by Foam Shedding Problems
NASA announced Tuesday that engineers have found nine small cracks in the foam coating of an external tank slated for use by the space shuttle Discovery. This is just one more clue in NASA's investigation into why a large piece of foam broke off of the shuttles in the last two launchings. Two minutes after Discovery blasted off on July 26th, engineers noticed debris shedding from the orbiter. It was later determined that a briefcase sized piece of foam had broken off of the external fuel tank, but luckily did not hit the shuttle. The same kind of foam shedding has been blamed for the Columbia disaster. NASA will continue their investigation while the shuttle fleet remains grounded.
(CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/11/22/space.shuttle/index.html, 11/22/05)
Bush Signs Legislation Allowing NASA to Buy Russian Soyuz
Bush has signed the Iran Non-proliferation Amendments Act of 2005, which will allow NASA to purchase a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. While the space shuttles are grounded, this craft is the only vehicle that can carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station. With this amendment, NASA will be permitted to purchase Soyuz vehicles up through 2012.
(UPI, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/spacetravel-05zzzzf.html, 11/25/05)
Japanese Probe Lands on Asteroid
A Japanese space probe has reportedly landed on an asteroid and successfully collected surface material to bring back to Earth. However, shortly after collecting the samples the probe showed signs of technical problems. The probe, which is currently hovering approximately 5 km from the asteroid, will be put into "safety mode" while engineers investigate the issue. The Hayabusa probe apparently landed on the asteroid for several seconds to collect powder from its surface, but it won't be certain whether Hayabusa succeeded in securing samples until it returns to Earth. This is the probe's second landing on the asteroid; the first attempt seemed unsuccessful at first when Japan's Space Agency lost contact with the probe, but, days later, JAXA realized it had actually made contact with the asteroid. Hayabusa was launched in 2003 and will hopefully begin its journey home in December.
(Reuters, http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/11/26/japan.probe.reut/index.html, 11/26/05)
China on the Moon by 2020
A Chinese space program official said Sunday that China wants to put a man on the moon and build a space station within 15 years. These plans of course are subject to funding, said Hu Shixiang, deputy commander in chief of China's space flight program. China hopes to master the technology for a space walk and docking in space by 2012. Hu also dismissed suggestions that China was competing with the U.S. "It's not the competition of the Cold War era," he said. Hu went on to stress China's peaceful intentions of exploring space.
(Lee, Min, AP, http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/ap_051127_china_moon.html, 11/27/05)
Iran Steps Up Space Program
Fearing that Western countries will begin imposing restrictions on its space program, Iran's space agency has been rushing to get as much technology as possible for its satellite program. Iran claims that it is pursuing a peaceful space program, launching satellites to monitor natural disasters in the earthquake-prone nation. However, other countries are concerned that Iran's satellites will monitor troops in neighboring countries. "We have to move quickly and achieve our goals in space. Otherwise we will face political, economic and security threats," said one space official, Mohammad Reza Movaseghinia. Iran launched its first satellite last month aboard a Russian rocket and the country's second satellite will be launched in the same fashion in two months. Iran's next goal is to use its own rocket to launch a satellite. "We have to build our own satellites, our own launchers. We need to be one of eight top countries mastering space technology," the head of the Iranian Space Agency said. The government has allocated $500 million on space projects for the next five years.
(AP, http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/11/29/iran.space.ap/index.html, 11/29/05)
Trip to the Moon Will Only Cost $100 Million
The Russia Space Agency announced Tuesday that it will offer tourist flights to the Moon, but the ticket will cost approximately $100 million. One or two space tourists will be allowed to board a modernized Soyuz spacecraft with a Russian cosmonaut. The ship will first dock at the International Space Station and then launch into a flight around the moon before returning to Earth. Space tourists will have to meet certain criteria, including education and medical standards. Russia is cooperating with the US, Japan, China, Brazil, Malaysia and South Korea in the space tourism industry.
(AFP, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/lunar-05zzx.html, 11/29/05)
Possible Miniature Solar System Discovered
With the use of ground and space-based telescopes, astronomers believe they have discovered the smallest known solar system. It appears that a brown dwarf is undergoing a planet-forming process 500 light years away in the constellation Chamaeleon. Brown dwarfs are thought to be balls of gas that have failed to collect enough mass to start shining. It is believed that, 4.5 million years ago, our own solar system was created from a very similar circumstance - a huge cloud of gas and dust collapsed to form the planets and sun. This is the smallest brown dwarf to be discovered with planet-forming properties. A report will be published in the December 10 issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
(AP, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051130/ap_on_sc/tiny_solar_system, 11/29/05)
Medvedev Fired
The head of the Russian space company Khrunichev was fired on Monday by the Russian government. Alexander Medvedev has been held responsible for a string of recent failures. Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center is best known as the manufacturer of the Proton launch vehicle and is in the process of developing a successor, the Angara. Medvedev was dismissed in a decree signed by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
(RIA Novosti, http://en.rian.ru/russia/20051128/42244489.html, 11/29/05)
Falcon 1 Rocket Launch Date Pushed Back
The first flight of SpaceX's Falcon 1 Rocket is not expected until after December 17th. The date depends on when a new supply of liquid oxygen will be delivered from Hawaii to the launch site on the Kwajalein Atoll. This same site is currently being used for missile defense testing, which is planned to take place through the 17th. The original date for the Falcon's launch was November 26, but the launch was cancelled due to an engine computer glitch and liquid-oxygen tank problems. The rocket will launch the FalconSat 2, a craft built by US Air Force Academy students.
(Berger, Brian, http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/051130_spacex_falcon1.html, 11/30/05)
Florida Could Have a New Spaceport
The Florida Space Authority plans to discuss turning a former Navy base into a commercial spaceport in a Dec. 7 teleconference. The plan will allow space tourists to launch into outer space from the Cecil Commerce Center. The site is already equipped with a runway large enough for spacecrafts to land. Before construction of the spaceport can begin, the Florida Space Authority must get approval from the Space Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection, as well as receive a license from the Federal Aviation Administration. The spaceport could cost anywhere between $10.5 million and $28 million.
(AP, http://www.space.com/news/ap_051130_navybase_spaceport.html, 11/30/05)
Evidence of Ice Found on Mars
European Space Agency scientists believe the Mars Express spacecraft has found deposits of water ice below the surface of the Red Planet. Near the planet's north pole, the spacecraft's radar instrument has detected a "subsurface interface between two different materials, thought to be ice and bedrock, below the surface of layered terrain." The radar has not detected any liquid water, but has found evidence that liquid water was stable on the surface during the planet's early history.
(NewScientist.com, http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn8397--radar-reveals-ice-deep-below-martian-surface.html, 12/1/05)
Commercial
Russia and India Collaborate on Glonas Navigation System
Russia and India have agreed to work together on a new generation of satellites linked to the Russian Glonas navigation system. The Glonas system, which was developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s, is the counterpart to the US GPS system. Russian company Reshetnev and its Indian partners will work on the development of Glonas-K satellites. There are currently 14 Glonas-M satellites in orbit, and, on December 25, three more are due to be launched.
(AFP, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/gps-05zzzzzg.html, 11/29/05)
EADS to Buy Dutch Space
EADS announced Thursday that it will buy a Dutch aerospace company. EADS will fully integrate Dutch Space into its EADS Space Transportation division. Dutch Space is known for its work on robotics, instrumentation, launch vehicle components and solar arrays. It has been involved in both the Vega and Ariane rocket programs, as well as the industry team developing the CX-OLEV space tug for Orbital Recovery Corporation. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
(Dutch Space, http://www.dutchspace.nl/pages/press/content.asp?id=307&LangType=1033, 12/2/05)
Military
Satellite Battle
With the year coming to a close, Boeing is facing its last chance to work on a costly constellation of spy satellites. Several months ago the Boeing Co. made the mistake of over-promising to build top-secret satellites that were cheaper, smaller, and more functional than its competition. Then, in September, National Intelligence Director John Negroponte decided to take all of Boeing's work and give it to the Lockheed Martin Corp. The US military is looking to replace an aging fleet of photo-reconnaissance satellites used to gather information about other governments and terror groups, but the project is far over budget and behind schedule. Although Boeing has a number of allies in Congress, including Rep. Jane Harman who called the decision "heartbreaking," the company's reputation was marred by its failure on a contract it won in 1999. For now, it seems that Lockheed has sealed the victory, but legislation that authorizes and funds spy satellites will be brought up next month.
(AP, http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Spy-Satellites.html, 12/1/05)
Op-Ed
Apollo 2 Unaffordable
In his recent editorial, Jeffrey Bell examines the opposition to Mike Griffin's new moon program. A great deal of the criticism of NASA's new space plan is that it is far too similar to Apollo. These critics want to see fancy space planes and radical new technology. But, according to Bell, these critics are wrong; Griffin's new Moon program has problems because it's not enough like Apollo to be affordable. Although the spacecrafts externally resemble the original Apollo, they have the ability to land twice as many astronauts for a stay that is twice as long. Not only that, a lot of the equipment was designed for use in the eventual mission to Mars and for trips to the International Space Station. "It is exactly this multiple-use design philosophy that makes this program unworkable and unaffordable," Bell says. Vehicles should be designed for a specific use or the equipment will become too heavy, making the mission "absurd," Bell insists.
(Bell, Jeffrey F., SPX, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/lunar-05zzy.html, 12/1/05)
Credits
Compiled by Brita Ericson
Edited by Suzy Vogel